Combination envelope and display folder



July 13, 1965 E. B. BERKLEY COMBINATION ENVELOPE AND DISPLAY FOLDER I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1964 INVENTOR.

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July 13,- 1965 COMBINATION ENVELOPE AND DISPLAY FOLDER Filed May a, 1964 United States Patent 3,194,482 COMEXNATEDN ENVE'LUPE AND DllSPLAY FOLDER Eugene ll. Berkley, Shawnee Mission, Kans, assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,907 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-71) This invention relates to an envelope and/or display folder for containing samples and/ or literature concerning articles of merchandise, and has for its object to provide a folder of this character having a pocket provided with a window and hinged flaps having areas carrying advertising, and which also cooperate with the pocket to provide tri-edged support of the display folder.

In carrying out the invention, the envelope is formed of a single sheet of material, generally of rectangular shape, and folded on a transverse median line thereof to provide front and back panels of the pocket and flaps extending from portions of the panels opposite the fold. The fold thus constitutes a connection of the panels at one side thereof, and cooperates with adhesive along opposite portions of the panels to close the sides of the pocket. The lower end of the pocket is closed by a bottom flap and the upper end of the pocket may be provided with a closure flap on one of the panels that is folded over the other panel and which may be secured thereto by adhesive, to complete closure of thepocket.

One of the panels may have a window opening that may or may not be covered with a transparent patch, depending upon the nature of the contents to be placed in the pocket.

The projecting flaps may bear advertising or other information, and are free to be folded along the adhesive that closes the side of the pocket, to overlie outer faces of the panels to which they are attached. Thus one of the flaps may cover the window, if provided, but the structure lends itself to easy hing-ing of the flaps outwardly at diverging angles with respect to the pocket, for providing a stable tri-edged support.

For example, the envelopes may be carried by a salesman calling upon a prospective customer, and set up as display folders on the customers desk. In setting up the display, the salesman simply unfolds the advertising flaps, if they be folded, and slides his-thumb, first, and second fingers, respectively, into the three angles opened up at the upper portion of the pocket, and locates the window side of the display in front of the customer.

While the display device of the present invention is intended for convenient use by a salesman calling upon prospective customers, it is to be understood that the display may reach the prospect by many other methods, such as handing them out at conventions, meetings, or the like, and the prospect may easily set up the display to suit his convenience.

Another object of the invention is to provide an envelope in the form of a display folder wherein one of the advertising flaps is readily detachable and used as a mailing card to obtain additional samples or further information that may be desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an en velope and display folder combination in which the envelope may contain a card having articles contained thereon in plastic bubbles which project through openings in one of the panels of the pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide an envelope in the form of a display folder, wherein the envelope is easily opened in case a prospect should desire a closer inspection or use of the article or articles displayed therein.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination envelope and display folder constructed in accordance with the present invention and as furnished by the manufacturer to the user.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination envelope and folder with the side flaps hinged to cooperate with the bottom edge of the pocket portion in providing a tri-edged support for the folder, and showing portions of the front panel and the advertising flap broken away to illustrate the adhesive sealing the side of the pocket.

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the blank from which the combination envelope and display folder is formed, with the blank being partly folded and portions thereof broken away to better illustrate the construction.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section through the combination envelope and display folder when in the set-up position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention, wherein articles of mechandise are displayed in plastic bubbles attached to a card inserted in the pocket, with the bubbles extending through openings in the front panel, and showing portions of the display folder broken away to better illustrate the construction.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the pocket of the display folder shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the invention, wherein one of the flaps serves as a mailing card for use in obtaining additional samples or further information.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of the form of invention shown in FIG. 7, with the flaps in folded position over the respective outer faces of the pocket.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and first to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inelusive:

1 designates one form of combination envelope and dis play folder constructed in accordance with the present invention. The combination envelope and display folder is formed from a single generally rectangular sheet 2 of foldable material (FIG. 3) that will be self supporting. The sheet 2 is folded as indicated at 3, to provide overlying front and back panels 4 and 5 having flaps 6 and '7 extending therefrom, with the points of division between the flaps and panels being preferably defined by registering scores 8 and 9 which extend parallel with the fold 3. The fold 3 thus provides a continuous connection between the panels at one side thereof, and the' opposite sides of the panels are connected by adhesive 10 along the inner faces of the panels adjacent the scores 8 and 9 (FIG. 2), to interconnect that side of the panels and form a pocket It therebetween. The free edges 12 and 13 of the flaps 6 and 7 opposite the scores 8 and 9 may also be in registry with each other, and the flaps may be of substantially the same width, which may conform to the width of the panels 4 and 5. Extending along the lower portion of one of the panels, for example, the back panel 5, is a trans verse bottom flap 14- that is folded on a fold 15 over the lower edge 16 (FIG. 3) of the panel 4 and sealed to the panel 4 by adhesive 17, to close the bottom of the pocket 11.

The upper edge 18 of the panel 4 is in registry with a transverse score 19 defining the upper edge of the back panel 5 and cooperating therewith in providing an insert opening 20 into the pocket 11. The insert opening 24 may be closed by a closure flap 2! that is coextensive with the transverse score 19, and which has adhesive 22 thereon for sealing the closure flap 21 to the front panel 4 after the ice as articles to be displayed and/ or literature have been placed in the pocket 11, as later described.

One of the panels 4 or 5, for example, the panel 4, could be provided with a window 23, which may be of any desired shape to display the contents of the pocket therethrough. If the insert to be placed in the pocket is of sheet-like character, the window 23 may be open, however, if articles placed in the pocket are of different character, such as seeds or the like, the opening forthe window is covered on the inner face side of the panel 4 by a transparent atch 24 having marginal portions 25 overlapping the edges surrounding the opening and secured to the inner face of the panel by an adhesive as indicated at 26.

The faces 27 of the flap 6 and the faces 28 of the flap 7 are areas on which advertising may be applied concerning the material to be placed in the pocket. The outer side 34? of the back panel 5 also constitutes an area on which further advertising may be applied, as do also the marginal faces 29 of the front panel which surround the window 23. The advertising may be applied to the faces thus described at the time of making the display folder.

When the combination envelope and display folder is completed by the maker thereof, the flap 7 is preferably .folded on its score h to overlie the back panel 5, while the fiap 6 may extend in plane with the front panel 4- to which it is attached, as shown in FIG. 1, however, if the user should do desire, the flap 6 may be reversely folded on the score 8 to overlie the window 23 in the front panel. It is also obvious that both flaps 6 and 7 may be folded on their scores 8 and 9 so that they both overlie the same panel.

In using the form of the invention thus far described, a material to be displayed is inserted into the pocket 11 through the insert opening 2%, after which the adhesive 22 on the closure flap 21 may be moistened and the closure flap folded on the score 19 to close the insert opening and to seal the closure flap to the front panel 4, to complete closure of the pocket so as to retain the material therein. If the flaps 6 or 7 have not been initially folded, a salesman for the user of the display folders may, if he desires, fold either or both flaps 6 or 7 on their scores 8 or 9 to overlie the desired panel, to suit his sales technique.

.When the, salesman calls on a prospective customer, he uses the display folder by unfolding the flaps 6 and 7 sufficiently to insert his thumb into the angle 31 that opens up between the closure flap 21 and the flap 6, the second finger is placed in the angle 32 that opens between the flaps 6 and '7, with the forefinger entering the angle 33 between the flap 7 and the back panel 5. The fingers and thumb are squeezed together so that the flaps 6 and 7 are posi tioned at an obtuse angle with respect to the pocket portion of the display holder, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-. The display folder thus opened up is easily placed on the customers desk with the bottom fold and the lower edges 34 and 35 of the flaps 6 and 7 forming a tri-edged support for the display folder, with the window showing the contents of the pocket to the prospective customer.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 follows the construction of the form of the invention just described, with the exception that the front panel 4 is provided with openings 36 and 37, and instead of the adhesive it}, the corresponding facing portions of the front and back panels 4 and 5 are secured together by stripes of adhesive 38 and 39 that stick together and may be peeled apart if desired. Also, the closure flap Zirnay be provided with adhesive 40 that makes pressure sealing contact with a similar stripe of adhesive 41 extending transversely of the front panel 4. In this form of the invention, the insert placed in the pocket 11 is shown as a strip or card 42, having plastic bubbles 43 and 44 fixed thereto contain the articles 45 to be displayed, and which bubbles project through the openings 36 and 37 as best illustrated in FIG. 6. This form of the invention is particularly for use of pharmaceutical salesmen calling upon physicians, druggists, veterinarians, and the like, although it is adapted for displaying other articles since it is obvious that the openings in the panel may be of various sha es and sizes to accommodate the shapes and sizes of bubbles bestsu-itable for containing a particular article.

The pressure sealing type of adhesive is adaptable to all the forms of the invention and may be desired by some users of the display folders because it is easier to seal. The front and back panels i and 5 may be peeled apart to permitopening of the pocket when the customer desires to remove the articles for closer inspection and/or use.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the construction of the pocket is the same as that described in connection with the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. If desired, the window may be omitted from the front panel 4, Also, in this instance, one of the flaps 6 or 7 may be detachable along a line of perforations 45 that extends along the side seam of the pocket, in which case that flap constitutes a mailing card 47 which may be used by the customer in case he desires additional samples, literature, or for a salesman to call, as indicated at 48 and to be marked simply by applying an X in one of the squares 49 on one face of the card. Below the printing 48 the card may be printed for application of the name and address 59 of the customer desiring a response. The opposite side of the flap, as shown in FIG. 8, may be printed with the name and address 51 of the user of the display folders. A designation S2 is also provided to indicate the application of a postage stamp, if the card is not preprinted with a postage designation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A combination display envelope and folder including generally rectangular overlying panels with the three edge portions of one panel being connected with the corresponding edge portions of the other. panel to provide a pocket having an insert opening between the other of said edges, and

flaps extending from corresponding connected side edges of the panels and having folds at the connections with said panels to provide for relative hinging of the flaps, said flaps having edges cooperating with corresponding edges of the panels in providing a triedge support for the envelope when on display.

2. An envelope as described in claim 1,

in which one of said panels has a window therein for displaying an enclosure in said pocket.

3. An envelope as described in claiml',

wherein one of said fiaps'is detachably connected at said fold thereof. 7 4. A combination envelope and display folder including generally rectangular overlying panels connected along on side edge by a fold,

a side flap extending integrally from edge portion of each panel,

adhesive connecting the panels along the side edge portions, and v v a means closing the remaining edges of the panels to complete closure of a pocket between said panels, said side flaps having folds to overlie the panels in one folded position and to hinge from said panels to a display position. V

5. A combination envelope and display folder as de scribed in claim 4,

" in which said adhesive that connects the side panel portions is of a type to enable peeling of the panels apart when opening said pocket.

6. A combination envelope and displayfolder including generally rectangular overlying panels'conneoted along one side edgeby a fold,

a side flap extending integrally from the opposite side portions of each'panel,

adhesive connecting the panels along the side portions,

and

means closing the remaining edges of the panels to complete an envelope portion having a pocket for conthe opposite side ta-ining an enclosure to be displayed through a window in one of said panels,

said side flaps having folds for the flaps to overlie the envelope portion in one folded position and to hinge said flaps from said folded position to a display position.

7. A combination envelope and display folder including generally rectangular overlying panels connected along one side edge by a fold,

a side flap extending integrally from the opposite side portions of each panel, adhesive connecting the panels at the side portions having the flaps to cooperate with the fold in closing said side edges and providing a pocket between the panels,

a bottom flap on one of the other edges of one of the panels and having a fold over the corresponding edge of the other panel to bring said bottom flap in overlying relation with the bottom portion of the other panel,

adhesive securing the bottom flap to the said other panel to provide a bottom for said pocket,

said remaining edge of each panel being unconnected to provide an insert opening to said pocket for the insertion of an enclosure into said pocket,

a closure flap extending from one panel and foldable over the insert opening into sealing contact with the other panel to retain the enclosure, and

a sealing adhesive to make a seal between said closure flap and the said other panel.

8. A combination envelope and display folder as described in claim 7,

in which one of said side flaps is detachable from the panel to which said side flap is connected.

9. A combination envelope and display folder including generally rectangular overlying panels connected along one side edge by a fold,

a side flap extending integrally from the opposite side portions of each panel,

adhesive connecting the panels at the side portions having the flaps to cooperate with the fold in closing said side edges and providing a pocket between the panels,

a bottom flap on one of the other edges of one of the panels and having a fold over the corresponding edge of the other panel to bring said bottom flap in overlying relation with the bottom portion of the other panel,

adhesive securing the bottom flap to the said other panel to provide a bottom for said pocket,

said remaining edge of each panel being unconnected to provide an insert opening to said pocket for the insertion of an enclosure into said pocket for display through a window in one of the panels, and

sealing adhesive to make said seal between said closure flap and said other panel,

said side flaps being movable from a folded position to a display relatively to said panels and outwardly from each other to cooperate with the fold of said bottom flap to provide a tri-edged support for the combination envelope and display folder.

1%}. In combination,

generally rectangular overlying panels with one of said panels having an opening therein and with edge portions of both panels being connected together to pro vide a pocket between said panels,

a strip in said pocket,

a plastic bubble on said strip and projecting through said opening, and

flaps extending from side edge portions of the panels and hinging at the connections with said panels to cooperate with the panels in providing a support to display an article in said plastic bubble.

11. In combination,

generally rectangular overlying panels with one of said panels having an opening therein and with edge portions of both panels being connected together to provide a pocket between said panels,

a strip in said pocket,

a plastic bubble on said strip and projecting through said opening, and

flaps extending from corresponding side edge portions of the panels for hinging from each other at the connect-ions thereof with said panels to cooperate with the panels in providing a tri-edged support when displaying an article in said plastic bubble.

12. A device of the character described including generally rectangular overlying panels connected along one side edge by a fold,

a side flap extending integrally from the opposite side portions of each panel,

adhesive connecting the panels at the side portions having the flaps to cooperate with the fold in closing said side edges and providing a pocket between the panels,

a strip in said pocket, and

a plastic bubble on said strip and projecting from said opening,

said side flaps being movable to a position at an angle to each other to cooperate with the panels in providing a tri-edged support for display of the article contained in the plastic bubble.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,419 10/ 16 Adams 22992.7 2,112,227 3/ 38 Berkowitz 229 2,484,749 10/ 49 Salfisberg 206-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 793,293 4/58 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

6. A COMBINATION ENVELOPE AND DISPLAY FOLDER INCLUDING GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OVERLYING PANELS CONNECTED ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE B Y A FOLD, A SIDE FLAP EXTENDING INTEGRALLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF EACH PANEL, ADHESIVE CONNECTING THE PANELS ALONG THE SIDE PORTIONS, AND MEANS CLOSING THE REMAINING EDGES OF THE PANELS TO COMPLETE AN ENVELOPE PORTION HAVING A POCKET FOR CONTAINING AN ENCLOSURE TO BE DISPLAYED THROUGH A WINDOW IN ONE OF SAID PANELS, SAID SIDE FLAPS HAVING FOLDS FOR THE FLAPS TO OVERLIE THE ENVELOPE PORTION IN ONE FOLDED POSITION AND TO HINGE SAID FLAPS FROM SAID FOLDED POSITION TO A DISPLAY POSITION. 